To be a city councilperson...

You need to raise at least $80,000 in a campaign (n.b. - *raise*, people sometimes spend more), otherwise you're simply not viable.

I found this out through a meeting of the local community-organizing group, which is looking to host a debate. Members of the community were really appalled by that fact, esp. since so many of the people attending the meeting were poor or marginalized or living in subsidized housing.